“Ninth inning! Last chance for the visiting team to change the outcome of this match!” the commentator’s voice echoed throughout the stadium. “The deficit is still four points! It looks like the fate of the match has already been decided!”

The stands roared.

Most of the spectators were already celebrating one team’s victory.

I sat calmly in my seat, watching not so much the field as the two people sitting a few rows below.

Hayato.

And Satomi.

“Exactly like in the novel.”

I smirked.

I remembered this event almost word for word.

Satomi had suggested the game.

If the team she chose won…

Hayato would grant her any wish.

Naive.

She had been so confident in the favorite’s victory that she hadn’t even considered the possibility of losing.

And now…

The favorite was indeed winning by a huge margin.

“Everything is going according to the script.”

But…

Only if no one knows what happens next.

I slowly took out my phone.

Opened the betting app.

The odds on the losing team…

50.00

I smiled faintly.

“Thank you.”

My fingers quickly moved across the screen.

Balance.

All my savings.

Income from ads.

Social media.

Closed subscriptions.

Even the money that had still been sitting in reserve until recently.

Not enough.

I calmly took out two more pre-approved loans.

The screen showed the final amount.

30,000,000 yen.

Without a single emotion, I pressed the button.

Bet accepted.

The screen flashed.

I put the phone back in my pocket.

“Now all that’s left is to watch.”

—

“Last chance!”

Pitch!

The ball flew with a whistle over the home base.

Hit!

“Contact!”

The first batter sent the ball far between the outfielders.

The stands came alive.

“Excellent hit! One runner is already heading home!”

Next batter.

Another pitch.

Another hit.

One more point.

Surprised exclamations began to be heard in the stands.

“Are they starting a comeback?!”

I calmly watched the field.

“Right now.”

“They need to find their courage.”

Third batter.

A powerful hit.

The ball flew high into the evening sky.

For a second, the entire stadium fell silent.

Then…

“Home run!!”

The deafening roar of the stands literally hit my ears.

The gap shrank to one point.

Now both teams were nervous.

The commentator almost lost his voice.

“Unbelievable! Simply unbelievable! This happens once every few years!”

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Further…”

“The most interesting part.”

Last batter.

Two unsuccessful attempts.

Two strikes.

The entire stadium rose from their seats.

Pitch.

Swing…

A ringing hit.

The ball flew so far that the outfielders could only helplessly watch it go.

For a few seconds…

It felt like time itself had stopped.

Then the umpire raised his arms.

“Home run!!”

The stadium literally exploded.

People were screaming.

Hugging each other.

Someone grabbed their head.

The commentator was no longer speaking — he was shouting:

“Unbelievable! Unbelievable! They did the impossible! Losing almost the entire match, they snatch victory at the very end!”

Even I…

Couldn’t stay seated.

“Yes!!”

I jumped up sharply.

Clenched my fists involuntarily.

“There it is!!”

Several people nearby were also shouting joyfully, celebrating the greatest comeback of the season.

But the reason for my joy was completely different.

I quickly took out my phone.

The balance had updated.

The screen displayed the winnings amount.

I whistled quietly.

“Not bad…”

Thirty million…

Turned into a sum that would be enough to implement several of my plans at once.

I slowly exhaled.

“Now I don’t have to be frugal.”

Still smiling, I looked down.

At Hayato and Satomi.

The contrast was almost comical.

Satomi sat motionless.

An expression of genuine disappointment had frozen on her face.

She had clearly already been imagining what wish she would make if her team won.

Hayato, on the other hand…

Hadn’t noticed a thing.

He smiled happily and patted her on the shoulder.

“So now it’s my turn to make a wish!”

Satomi immediately perked up.

Hope flashed in her eyes.

She was clearly expecting…

At least something romantic.

At least a hint.

I already knew the answer in advance.

“Then…”

Hayato scratched the back of his head thoughtfully.

“Let’s… do an extra joint training session next week!”

“I want you to teach me your new pitch!”

…

Satomi silently looked at him.

For a few seconds.

Then she still forced a smile.

“Of course…”

“If that’s what you want…”

But even from here it was obvious.

She had been expecting something completely different.

At least an invitation.

At least a walk.

Or maybe…

Even a kiss.

I smiled quietly.

“Hayato…”

“You really do play on the easiest difficulty.”

“And you still manage not to notice the obvious.”

For some reason, this picture made me feel even more cheerful.

I looked at my phone screen again.

The balance had been successfully replenished.

A smile appeared on my face on its own.

First thing, I opened the banking app.

Loan number one.

Pay off completely.

Confirmation.

Next.

Also closed.

Then the list of transfers.

Several people from whom I had specifically borrowed money for today’s match.

“Thank you. As promised.”

“Returning with interest.”

One transfer.

Second.

Third.

Within a few minutes, all debts had disappeared.

I always followed one rule.

If you borrow — return as quickly as possible.

It’s calmer for everyone that way.

I put the phone in my pocket and slowly walked out of the stadium.

The crowd was still discussing the incredible comeback.

Someone was shouting.

Someone was arguing with friends.

But in my head, something completely different was already spinning.

“Satomi…”

I mentally put a small mark next to her name.

No changes.

Yes.

After today’s date, she was also practically marking time.

Hayato had ruined everything again with his own cluelessness.

“Rin…”

Most likely…

He would refuse her too.

She would probably gather her courage and invite him anyway.

But…

I remembered the route too well.

Even if he agreed…

It wouldn’t lead to any real romantic progress.

“Miu…”

Today she was probably also busy.

If memory serves…

Today their first home event was supposed to start.

A joint game.

Conversations.

Awkwardness.

But…

Even there, Hayato wouldn’t get to a kiss.

I smiled quietly.

“What a difficult case you are…”

Though…

This was even playing into my hands.

I mentally went through the remaining girls.

And suddenly stopped.

“Aya.”

…

Exactly.

While everyone else was moving forward…

She was practically falling out of the overall picture.

“If nothing changes…”

“Right now she should be starting to look for a part-time job.”

I remembered this part of the plot very well.

Several unsuccessful attempts.

And then…

A very suspicious ad.

A rich fat guy.

High pay.

Suspicious requirements.

The player saved her literally at the last moment.

I frowned.

“No…”

That won’t work.

If I appear again exactly when she needs help…

It will already look too suspicious.

I thoughtfully took out my phone.

Looked at the screen for a few seconds.

And suddenly snapped my fingers.

“That’s it.”

I quickly opened the job listings site.

Section:

Looking for a housekeeper.

Refresh.

New ads slowly appeared at the top of the list.

And…

My gaze almost immediately caught on one of them.

No photo.

Name hidden.

Only a pseudonym.

I smiled.

“Well, of course…”

Opened the description.

Looking for a housekeeper.

Work several times a week.

Can cook, clean, and do regular household chores.

Preferably without unnecessary conversations.

If something doesn’t suit you — better find someone else right away.

I don’t like being ordered around.

Pay is negotiable.

I quietly chuckled.

“Even the ad is written like a tsundere…”

Not a single extra word.

As if she was trying to protect herself from the employer in advance.

No photo.

No name either.

But…

“I would recognize her out of a thousand.”

Without thinking for a second, I pressed the “Respond” button.

In the payment field, I immediately indicated a sum significantly above the market average.

I sat calmly at a table by the window, lazily stirring my already lukewarm coffee with a spoon. It was just lunchtime, so the café was almost completely full. Conversations, the clatter of dishes, quiet music — exactly the kind of place she had asked for. Crowded. So that no unnecessary thoughts would arise.

I had deliberately chosen a table so I could see the entrance.

I didn’t have to wait long.

The bell above the door rang softly.

Aya walked in.

She immediately stopped at the entrance and quickly scanned the hall with her eyes. She frowned slightly, clearly looking for the person she had agreed to meet.

When our eyes met, I calmly raised my hand.

“Here.”

She froze for a moment.

As if she hadn’t expected to see me at all.

Then her face took on its usual displeased expression, and she walked toward me with a quick, confident step.

“Hello, Kurosaki-kun.”

She stopped by the table, folding her arms across her chest.

“Decided to have coffee?”

There was the usual prickliness in her voice.

But there was no malice.

Rather… embarrassment, which she habitually hid behind sharpness.

I calmly looked at her.

“I’m waiting for someone about a job.”

She blinked silently for a couple of seconds.

Then slowly took out her phone, opened the ad, and literally shoved the screen in my face.

“Wait…”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Are you… so rich that you’re too lazy to clean your own apartment?”

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Not exactly.”

Took a small sip of coffee.

“Actually, I’m planning to buy a house.”

Her eyebrows twitched slightly.

“A house?”

“Yes.”

“Not an apartment?”

“No.”

“Exactly a house.”

She had already stopped interrupting.

“A big house. It’ll be inconvenient for one person to take care of it. Cleaning, groceries, some household stuff…”

I shrugged.

“Easier to find someone you can trust right away.”

For a few seconds, silence hung in the air.

Aya was already looking at me completely differently.

Without her usual smirk.

Rather…

…as if she was trying to understand whether I was joking or not.

“You…”

She slowly sat down opposite.

“You earn that much?”

I nodded.

“From your channels?”

“Not only.”

“Main income — from social media.”

“Then ads.”

“Then investments.”

“Well, and a few more projects on the internet.”

I spoke about it just as calmly as if I were talking about the weather.

Without bragging.

For me, this had long since become ordinary work.

Aya whistled quietly.

“That’s…”

She looked away somewhere out the window.

Then quietly muttered:

“I’m jealous…”

I raised an eyebrow.

She immediately clicked her tongue.

“Don’t look at me like that!”

“Just…”

She irritably rubbed the back of her head.

“We’re the same age, after all.”

Smiled joylessly.

“And it turns out…”

She looked me straight in the eyes.

“…I’m about to get a job working for my peer.”

I was silent for a few seconds, looking at her.

Then said calmly:

“If we’re being honest…”

She tilted her head questioningly.

“With your appearance and personality…”

I made a short pause.

“You could’ve been earning good money a long time ago.”

She blinked in confusion.

“What?”

“Not working for someone.”

“But for yourself.”

She continued staring.

I calmly continued:

“People are interested in personalities right now.”

“Not perfect ones.”

“Real ones.”

“You have a bright appearance.”

“You’re emotional.”

“You’re not afraid to argue.”

“You have a good way with words.”

“And you’re memorable literally after five minutes of communication.”

I shrugged.

“For the internet, that’s more than enough.”

Aya’s cheeks flared up almost instantly.

“W-What?!”

She sharply looked away.

“What the hell are you even saying?!”

Then she blushed even harder.

“You don’t have to give me these… these weird compliments!”

I calmly shook my head.

“It’s not a compliment.”

She fell silent.

“It’s an assessment.”

I looked her straight in the eyes.

“I analyze audiences every day.”

“And I understand who is capable of gathering people around themselves.”

“You are capable.”

She opened her mouth.

But no words came out.

I continued just as calmly:

“That’s why I’m offering a slightly different job.”

She slowly raised her gaze.

“You’ll help me around the house.”

“But that’s not all.”

I put the cup on the saucer.

“Sometimes you’ll help with shoots.”

“Somewhere hold the camera.”

“Somewhere help with organization.”

“Somewhere just appear in the frame yourself.”

She listened silently.

“And then…”

I smiled slightly.

“If you want it yourself…”

“We’ll start your own channel.”

Silence.

Aya even stopped blinking.

“I’ll help with shooting.”

“With equipment.”

“With design.”

“With algorithms.”

“I’ll show you how everything works.”

“The rest will depend only on you.”

She was still silent.

Only gripping her phone tighter.

Several emotions mixed on her face.

Disbelief.

Embarrassment.

Surprise.

And something else…

Very similar to hope.

She lowered her gaze.

Then looked at me again.

This time already completely without her usual prickliness.

“… ”

She quietly swallowed.

“Kurosaki-kun…”

Slightly narrowed her eyes.

As if trying to understand whether I was mocking her.

“… ”

Her voice became noticeably quieter.

“You…”

A short pause.

“…are you seriously offering this right now?”

I calmly nodded.

“Yes.”

Without even thinking.

“Completely seriously.”

Aya stared at me for a few more seconds, as if hoping to find a catch.

Then quietly exhaled.

“You’re… weird.”

“I hear that often.”

She involuntarily snorted.

“Fine…”

Took out her phone.

“Then let’s discuss the payment right away.”

I made an inviting gesture with my hand.

“I’m listening.”

She quickly typed a sum on the calculator and turned the screen toward me.

I looked.

Raised my gaze.

Then looked at the numbers again.

And couldn’t hold back.

“Ha…”

A laugh escaped from my chest on its own.

Aya immediately frowned.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.”

I shook my head.

“It’s just…”

Looked at the sum again.

“You’re quite an expensive housekeeper.”

She immediately raised her nose.

“Kurosaki-kun…”

I calmly took a sip of coffee.

“Hm?”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You’re actually very stingy.”

I almost choked.

“Is that so?”

“Exactly.”

She nodded confidently.

“With your income, you could’ve offered twice as much.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Bold.”

She crossed her arms over her chest.

“And why be shy?”

“You yourself said you’re looking for someone you can trust.”

I smiled wider.

“And I see you also know how to bargain.”

“Of course.”

“Otherwise I’d get scammed quickly.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

“This isn’t bargaining skill.”

She tilted her head questioningly.

“This is impudence.”

She immediately straightened up indignantly.

“What impudence?!”

“The most ordinary kind.”

I calmly looked her in the eyes.

“You came to apply for a job…”

“And you’re already trying to rob your employer.”

For a few seconds she silently looked at me.

Then suddenly snorted.

“After that incident at the store, are you going to consider me a thief now?”

I smiled quietly.

“No.”

“Only those who, after five minutes of an interview, are already demanding a raise.”

She tried to keep a serious face for a few seconds.

Then still broke into a grin.

“Fine…”

“One to one.”

I looked at the sum once more.

“Alright.”

“Deal.”

Aya looked up in surprise.

“That easily?”

“Uh-huh.”

I calmly took another sip of coffee.

“Just one question.”

She became alert.

“What question?”

I looked her straight in the eyes.

“Why do you even need so much money?”

She immediately looked away.

“That’s…”

She was silent for a few seconds.

Then irritably clicked her tongue.

“None of your business.”

“Possibly.”

I calmly agreed.

“But if a person comes to apply for a job with me, I at least want to understand why they’re doing it.”

She continued looking somewhere out the window.

Her fingers slowly twisted the spoon.

Finally she quietly exhaled.

“I want to help my family.”

The answer came out short.

As if she hadn’t wanted to continue this topic in advance.

I remained silent.

She understood and reluctantly continued.

“My father is almost always at work.”

“My mom… is also tired.”

“At home there’s always this… cold atmosphere.”

She smiled joylessly.

“I think…”

“If I start earning normally…”

“Maybe… it’ll become a little easier.”

I didn’t answer anything.

I just calmly looked at her.

“So that’s how it is…”

“Nothing has changed at all.”

In the novel, her route was explained quite simply.

Aya sincerely believed that the problem with her family was money.

That if she started helping…

If she took some of the burden off her parents…

Her father would start coming home more often.

Would start smiling.

They would have dinner together again.

But…

I remembered the continuation too well.

It was never about the money.

Aya’s family was never threatened with divorce.

Her father worked non-stop not because he was forced to.

He simply…

Loved work more than his own home.

More than his family.

More than his wife.

More than his children.

That’s exactly why he almost never appeared at home.

And her stepmother…

Hayato’s biological mother…

Was still a fairly young woman.

At some point she had tried to change something.

Talked.

Asked.

Waited.

Then…

Stopped.

Resigned herself.

And seemed to slowly fade with each passing year.

I involuntarily gripped the cup a little tighter.

“Money won’t fix this.”

“No matter how much Aya earns…”

“Her father won’t start spending more time with his family.”

“Because the problem was never financial.”

I raised my gaze to the girl.

She was still looking into her cup.

As if she already understood in advance that her dream sounded too naive.

But still continued to cling to it.

I quietly exhaled.

“Perhaps…”

“I’ll have to change not only Aya’s route.”

Night had long since fallen over the city.
Ren walked out of the real estate agency tiredly, adjusted his shirt collar, and looked at his phone.
23:48.
Almost the entire day had been spent signing documents, meeting with lawyers, the bank, the construction company, and the design firm.
He quietly exhaled.
“Finally…”
His phone rang again.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Ren, all the documents have been signed. The house officially belongs to you now.”
“Excellent.”
“We’ve also accepted the order for a complete renovation of the premises. Everything you listed will be ready by tomorrow evening.”
“Good. Don’t hold back on expenses.”
“Understood.”
Ren opened the site plan once more.
The house was located just a few houses away from Hayato’s family home.
While Hayato and Miu’s family homes were typical cozy Japanese private houses with small yards and fences, Ren’s new house looked completely different.
It wasn’t a huge mansion.
But it was noticeably larger than the neighboring ones…
A tall modern two-story house.
A large fenced territory.
Automatic gates.
A spacious yard.
On the left was a garage that could fit several cars at once.
Behind the house — a pool with a wooden terrace.
Along the paths, neat trees, decorative bushes, and a small garden near the entrance had already been planted.
Ren silently scrolled through the layout.
“My bedroom…”
First floor.
The farthest room.
Without unnecessary luxury.
A large bed.
A work desk.
Computers.
Several monitors.
A safe.
Nothing extra.
After that, his gaze moved lower.
The basement.
Specially reinforced.
Completely soundproofed.
Several rooms.
One of them he had asked to be left completely empty.
Thick walls.
Adjustable lighting.
Good ventilation.
No windows.
He said calmly:
“Leave that room only for me.”
“Of course.”
Next…
Six large rooms.
All identical.
Spacious.
Bright.
Large beds.
Work desks.
Private bathrooms.
Closets.
Currently without individual decoration.
He had decided that each girl could later change the interior to suit herself.
But one room was different.
Yūki’s room.
It almost completely replicated her workspace from his apartment.
The same large computer desk.
Several monitors.
Professional lighting.
Cameras.
Microphones.
Stands.
Soundproofing.
Even the usual furniture arrangement.
The builders had already transported almost all the equipment.
Besides that…
A new bed.
A large bookshelf.
A walk-in closet.
A separate section was completely filled with streaming and cosplay costumes.
Everything was neatly hung up.
From everyday clothes to the most unusual outfits.
Shelves with wigs.
Shoes.
Accessories.
Ren calmly scrolled through the photos.
“Yūki won’t have to start everything from scratch…”
The next tab.
Cars.
A black sports car.
Low.
Fast.
Modern.
And…
A large black SUV.
High.
Spacious.
In case the whole group needed to go somewhere together.
He pressed the confirmation button.
“Order both.”
“Already processing.”
“Delivery tomorrow evening.”
“Good.”
The last call was with the designer.
“Will you make it in time?”
“Yes. Furniture assembly is already underway. By tomorrow evening the house will be completely ready.”
“Good.”
“Any other requests?”
Ren thought for a moment.
“Make the kitchen as big as possible.”
“Understood.”
“And…”
A small gazebo near the pool.
“We’ll do it.”
He hung up.
Silence finally settled inside the car.
…
When he returned home…
The clock already showed almost one in the morning.
The apartment greeted him with complete silence.
He took off his shoes.
Slowly walked into the living room.
Empty.
She was no longer there.
Ren smiled quietly.
“It even feels a bit unusual…”
He put his phone on the charger.
Opened the fridge.
Poured himself some water.
After that, he walked over to the window.
In the distance, the lights of the district were visible — the place where his new house would be tomorrow.
Right next to Hayato’s house.
It was convenient.
If anyone needed help, he could get there in just a few minutes.
Ren looked at the photos of the house once more.
A large kitchen.
A spacious living room.
Bedrooms.
A pool.
A garage.
A garden.
Everything was gradually starting to resemble not just a place to live.
But a real home, where one day their entire strange company could gather.
He locked his phone.
“Tomorrow…”
…was going to be a long day.
With these thoughts, he turned off the lights and went to bed, not even suspecting how many new events the next evening would bring.